The Outdoor Campus
The Outdoor Campus is Sioux Falls' outdoor skills learning and nature center. Located in Sertoma Park, the purpose of the Outdoor Campus is to preserve the Siouxland heritage through hands-on learning.
Outdoor classes for all ages are available including classes about wildlife habitats and lifestyles, and classes about outdoor fun such as snowshoeing and hiking. Workshops are also available in areas like camp cooking and wild game cooking. Much information is available here on naturalism and animals that live in the region. The Outdoor Campus also rents out space for outdoor-related education classes, clubs, and organizations.
Classes provided by the Outdoor Campus help to meet state and national science standards in preschool, elementary school, and middle school. Preschool nature awareness programs include learning how animals use their five senses, learning how animals move, and singing songs about animals native to South Dakota. Programs for elementary and middle school students include age-appropriate studies of animals that live in South Dakota and corresponding activities.
The Outdoor Campus has a 6,000 square foot butterfly garden. This sanctuary has been planted with flowers specifically geared toward providing nectar for butterflies. There is also an entire section planted for caterpillars so that they can get the proper nourishment to become butterflies. When visitors walk through the butterfly garden, they can see a number of butterflies that are native to this region of South Dakota. Many of the kinds seen are monarch, yellow swallowtail, viceroy, and painted lady.
The best part of the Outdoor Campus is that admission and classes are all free!
The Outdoor Campus is a great way to learn about the creatures that call South Dakota home. A true haven for the nature lover, the Outdoor Campus is a fun, exciting way to learn about nature.
